2002 V11 LeMans with bad clutch, what is she worth?

[MedicAndy]

So I'm talking to the owner of this 2002 V11 who is trying to sell this Guzzi. He bought the bike two years ago, so is the second owner. The bike has 12.5k miles on her, and according to the seller, she is perfect. I did asked him several specific questions, with one being: Any issues with the engine, transmission, clutch, electronics, or drive shaft? He told me that the clutch was slipping a little, so he adjusted it, which took care of the issue. I purchased a 96 BMW R1100RS with 6200 original miles on her about four month ago, and she also had a clutch slipping issue at higher rpm take-offs. This issue resulted in an $1,800.00 bill from BMW for new clutch and labor to install. The Guzzi guy is asking $3,900.00 for the bike, which was the cost before he told me about the clutch. (A big thumbs up to him for telling me, since he is in TN, and I am out of NC). I told him that I would get back to him with an offer after I had a better understanding on how much the new clutch and labor cost would be, and I am pretty sure that the clutch needs to be replaced. Does anyone here has a good feel on what I'm looking at for getting a new clutch installed in a 2002 V11? I don't want to lowball the guy, but I also don't want to pay him $3k if the cost for replacing the clutch will be $1.5k

Thanks,

Andy

[FGO]

Nice bike with low miles, get a good price and sort the clutch.  I had an 02 Lemans, best guzzi I ever had

[Chuck in Indiana]

Shouldn't that one have the dual plate clutch? They are pretty much bullet proof, and it just *might* be an adjustment. That is really low mileage for a clutch issue with one. <shrug>

[MedicAndy]

I don't know anything about Moto Guzzi bikes. I just purchased a 1985 Lemans IV with 5k original miles on her about three month ago, and I'm trying to learn a little about Moto Guzzi bikes now.






I guess the slipping clutch issue on the 2002 V11 could have been taken care off with an adjustment? I also don't know which type of clutch this bike has.

Andy

[alanp]

I don't know what a clutch might cost or what the likelyhood it actually is a bad clutch, but that does seem unlikely at that mileage.  For reference, I bought the same 2002 lemans last August for $4500.  It had 4600 miles on it and was in pristine condition, so I think the starting price is fair.  They are fantastic bikes to ride!  Nothing can compare IMO, and the last of the true Guzzis.

[pete roper]

V11 has a hydraulically operated clutch. No real adjustment to make unless it's the plunger on the lever but I can't remember if the V11's use that system.

Pete

[Kiwi_Roy]

I wonder about the speedo pointer, it seems to be quite faded.

Ask the same question over on VII Lemans forum, there's a topic on clutch replacement at the moment.

[Moto Fugazzi]

V11 has a hydraulically operated clutch. No real adjustment to make unless it's the plunger on the lever but I can't remember if the V11's use that system.

Pete

My 2001 V11S had that adjustment. There was a screw in the lever that had some glue covering it that had to be removed in order to make the adjustment. IIRC, my owner's manual recommended against turning the screw. The clutch lever should also have the adjustable "roll a click" lever, with 4 adjustment numbers. #4 position could possibly cause some clutch slip at higher RPM's.
Ken

[John A]

Once it starts to slip, it's toast, unless it's caught very early.

[dl.allen]

Rat guzzi just had one replaced or did it himself
Maybe he will post shortly.
I think it is a ton of work.  I did one I my 850t but that was a lot easier and cheap parts

[Chuck in Indiana]

Rat guzzi just had one replaced or did it himself
Maybe he will post shortly.
I think it is a ton of work.  I did one I my 850t but that was a lot easier and cheap parts

Meh.. the spineys are different, but not a *lot* more work to do a clutch on, IMHO.

[arveno]

http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193&products_id=4687

http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193&products_id=4789

I would say you could spend around 400/500 bulks in parts to do the job, do it your self is cheaper
If you have to pay a shop....mhhh i do not know but if they charge 80/90 bucks / hour rate... it may take 6 hours for a shop ?
I would estimate a good 1100 usd for a shop to do it. ( ball park )

Maybe shop owners will be able to give you an accurate quote.

good luck.
btw buy it , its a very nice bike... you won't regret it.

[Tom Parmelee]

The clutch on my '04 Ballabio went bad at 23,000mi.  Moto International replaced it--$1000--total parts and labor.  Their labor rate at the time was $95/hr and it took seven hours.  Said the clutch was defective, loose rivets.  Not common they said but not unheard of either. 

[pressureangle]

I don't know anything about Moto Guzzi bikes. I just purchased a 1985 Lemans IV with 5k original miles on her about three month ago, and I'm trying to learn a little about Moto Guzzi bikes now.






I guess the slipping clutch issue on the 2002 V11 could have been taken care off with an adjustment? I also don't know which type of clutch this bike has.

Andy

Andy, I just finished a complete restoration/upgrade on my '85 LeMans. FYI.

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=74056.0

[Moto Fugazzi]

I had a leaky rear main seal on my old V11 Sport. I had a local dealer replace that and all new clutch components. About 35k on the odometer at that time, with no clutch issues. The bill was about $1200 before taxes, and that included all tranny seals, and new springs in the shifter area.
Typically a 6-8 hour job for an experienced tech, and took about 1-2 weeks for the parts to arrive.
Ken

[Rox]

If you pay 3k $ for a Lemans and it's 1500 to repair you're paying market value with the assurance of a brand new clutch. My only concern is how long the bike has sat with a bad clutch and what else (if anything) needs replacement.
     If it were me I'd have him shave a few more hundred and jump on it. But that's just me. I love v11 spine frames...

[Scud]

I just replaced the clutch on my 2003 LeMans. It was slipping as you described. Surprisingly the plates didn't look too thin - but the springs were very weak.

You can get all the parts from MG Cycle. You'll need two clutch discs, an intermediate plate, and springs. Some people like to also put in a new pressure plate and starter ring at the same time (they both have friction surfaces).

Don't be scared away by all the clutch disasters about 2002 V11 special editions with single-plate clutches. The bike you're looking at has the standard, reliable dual plate.

Go get it.

[Arizona Wayne]

The clutch on my '04 Ballabio went bad at 23,000mi.  Moto International replaced it--$1000--total parts and labor.  Their labor rate at the time was $95/hr and it took seven hours.  Said the clutch was defective, loose rivets.  Not common they said but not unheard of either.

My `81 CX100 stripped all its clutch rivets @ 90K miles and I think I caused it having too low an idle rpm.  I believe the pulsing of the pistons then did the rivets in.   

[pauldaytona]

12k is not the milage a clutch goes. So maybe a seal making it wet, or some old mounting failure from factory that comes up. I have the same gearbox/ hydrauilic clucth in my bike, and never had to adjust anything, or do something else. These clutch should do 50 k at least, unless the plates break from the center. but that gives different problems